British veterans of the Arctic Convoys are on their way to present the Arctic Star medal to Russia's Central Museum of the Great Patriotic War in Moscow.

British veterans of the the Arctic Convoys are on their way to present the Arctic Star medal. Credit: ITV News

The surviving British veterans are from Southwark, and from the Royal Navy and Merchant Navy. They want to pay their respect to the Russian people for the heroism and the courage displayed during the Second World War and the Great Patriotic War from 1941-1945.

The Arctic Star medal will be presented to Russia's Central Museum of the Great Patriotic War. Credit: Chris Ison/PA Wire

A group of surviving British veterans of the Arctic Convoys, all members of the Russian Convoys Club, launched in 1985 in the Royal British Legion, Kennington, Southwark, are to present the Arctic Star medal to Russia's Central Museum of the Great Patriotic War in Moscow.

It is 89-year-old James Pitts from London, who defended convoys JW66 and RA66 whose medal will be presented.

The Arctic Star will begin its journey, ahead of the veterans, with the ceremony on board HMS Belfast today.

The Star will be taken by sea to St. Petersburg in Russia before the arrival of British veterans in Moscow on Thursday 28 November.

This afternoon at Downing Street, David Cameron presented Bomber Command clasps to 25 veterans who flew bombing raids during World War II. They faced extreme dangers on their missions - 55,573 were killed on the raids during the war.

At Downing Street this morning, David Cameron presented the Arctic Star medal to forty World War II veterans who served on the Arctic convoys supplying war material to Russia. They experienced freezing temperatures as well as the risk of being sunk by the enemy.

The Prime Minister went on board HMS Belfast today to meet some of the veterans who served in the Arctic convoys during World War II. He presented medals to 40 convoy veterans and clasps to 25 who flew with Bomber Command.

Both awards were recently created after a campaign to highlight the service of the veterans during the war.